The successful candidate will be an accomplished legal leader able to
make an effective legal and wider contribution in a public sector
environment that fuses public law issues and significant commercial
projects. Within DfT, you will need to navigate a large and complex
department, demonstrating your grip on the legal function and making
a contribution as a senior leader. As a member of DfT’s Executive
Committee you will support the Permanent Secretary and her senior
team in managing the Department. Membership of DfT’s Business
Investment and Commercial Committee will involve you in the
governance and assurance of its most significant programmes and
projects. At the same time, you will be leading a team of lawyers
employed by GLD and looking to GLD for career development and
opportunities.
You will be accountable to both DfT and GLD for delivering a highly
effective and efficient legal service. You will have delegated
budgetary responsibility for a legal budget of more than £10m and will
need to be financially and commercially astute. Strong leadership
and communication skills are essential to unlocking the benefits of the
shared service business model.
Key responsibilities include:
 to ensure that legal advice of the highest quality is provided to
DfT’s ministers and officials, providing that advice personally
where required;

 to create an environment in which legal analysis is properly
integrated into the decision making and organisational culture
of DfT;
 to provide visible and effective leadership of the division,
assessing and managing demand for legal work, planning and
negotiating budgets and resources to meet DfT’s legal needs
and seeking out innovative approaches to improve value for
money;
 to engage staff and lead change to develop a flexible,
confident, innovative and efficient team;
 to develop the skills and capability of the people under your
direction, using performance and talent management
effectively to ensure everyone fulfils their potential and
 to contribute to the wider leadership of GLD in delivering
consistent and excellent value for money legal services to
government.